The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-30

times, and informs us of the most i'm
portaht events OF the day. Besides
giving us the daily occurrences it fur
nishes us the market reports. the
weather indications, and local TENS of
interest. How valuable to the couu-
Try family is 4 messenger which alone.
perhaps connects it with the outer
world, and which often constitutes
with the Bible and Il few books the
sole library of the household! And
such is not rarely the case. Many of
the families i'll our own county who
almost never see any reading matter
except the paper which comes to them
once Il week, and shameful though it
may SEEM: there are many who do not
subscribe to even Il newspaper.
When it is seen what need there il
OF raising the standard of education
among Il people, and to what an ex-
tent ignorance stalks over the land.
we can not fail to see the necessity of
some Instructors which may be sent
ar'an near II every corner Of dark
ness. The means for the fulfillnent of
this want is nowhere found better thar
IN n newspaper, and in it we have
the pest II cheapest educator that
a be had. The newspaper as a pow
er for good is becoming more and more
appreciated each day, and it is yet in
lts infancy II respect to to the attain
ments which it may achieve.
The advantages Of Il good news
paper are manifold, foremost Of all is
It's value as an educator. The news
paper as Il means for distribution of
intelligence may be divided into three
heads, the gradual development of
which has already commented upon.
FIRST we have the paper rs a record
OF the events of the day, the messrn-
ger which brings us all the latest intel
ligence, and informs us upon all mat
ters Of news. The chief value of the
paper IN this respect is that it keeps us
abreast with the world, and lets us see
the progress which it is making.
Nothlng stimulates us more to action
ourselves than to see the progress
which others are making, and nothing
is more enlarging to the mind and pre.
vents danger OF narrOWnesS more than
to see achievements other than orr
own.
by making us familiar with the GUS
toms and habits of the rest of the
world, this feature of the ape does
much towards preventing our falling
into contracted ways of thought and
action, and by keeping us notified Of
oil the latest inventions and improve
ments gives us all opportunity Of prof
ting by them. In this way the paper
is not only the recorder but promoter
or progress, and contributes much to
the general prosperity.
one great advantage Of the newspa-
pers is that it gives everything to us
new. There is a great attraction
ABOUT Whatever is news, and this fact
often makes us read with interest
things which otherwise would not be
noticed by us. The paper presents the
news in an attractive shape, and
makes pleasant much which presented
III a more prosaic form would be dry
and uninteresting. These bits of news
may be digested during odd moments
and much time which would other
wise be wasted may be usefully en-
ployed in the perusal of a good news
paper.
The second feature Of the paper is
the II which more than any other
marks its individuality, and gives to
each its W peculiar force and infu-
ence. This is the editorial depart
ment, and it is here that the paper
nay be used not merely as a chroni-
cler or events, but rs a universal in
structor, n a medium for the educa-
ion OF the public upon all questions
social, moral and political. The D
here becomes an important element in
the formation Of public opinion, a
power which may be used for the adj
vancement of good or evil according
as it is welded in the mission of right
or wrong. 1t is here that each editor
may exert whatever influence he pos
sesses, and make his own impression
upon the minds of men.
People are very apt to form their
Ideas u~ponsubjects on which they are
not well informed, from the editorials
of their paper. We naturally turn af-
ter reading an recount of any occur
renee to the editorial column, suppos-
ing the editor to be better Informed
than we are, and wishing to see his
comment before forming our own con-
c!usion. Not having decided opinions
OF our own. we often give even undue
weight to the editors criticism. The
influence thus welded by the is
tremendous and may be devoted to
purposes OF social advancement and
political reform. Much good may be
done by it in the way Of enIighteninc
the public, and guiding them i'm nc,
cordance with correct principles of life.
The newspaper may here be made
an instrument for furnishing moral rs
we'll as intellectual instruction, and as
such it's influence ranks alongside of
that of the pulpit and school room.
1t is here that the need of educated
and intelligent men in the Press is
particularly felt. The man who at
tempts to mould public opinion should
himself be well qualified for the task
which he undertakes. He should be
wei! Informed upon all subjects which
he handles, and should be conscien-
tious in his treatment Of them. The
Press calls for an educated and en-
lightened class of men as much or
than any other profession.